Effort aimed at BHS championship sign

Diane Wagner wants to see Baldwin High School's champions to be recognized and she's doing something about it.

"I think that it says a lot about the community when you can brag about your kids," said Wagner. "We've got a great bunch of kids and it's not just in one area it's athletics, debate, academics and other areas."

Wagner organized a fund-raising effort that has nearly raised the several thousand dollars needed to construct the sign, which will honor the 14 state championship teams at BHS. Still in question is whether the sign will need to be one-sided or two-sided. That depends on the location and also could mean more money.

"We're pretty close, but I don't want to discourage people from donating," said Wagner. "We have need a fund to keep the sign up and make changes. We'd also like to do some landscaping."

One possible location would be on city-owned property on Ames Street near the turn off to the high school. Kansas Department of Transportation officials will have to look at the site to determine if a sign can be erected there. If it is, a one-sided sign at an angle will work, she said. If that site won't work, the sign may go up on the highway on the newly purchased school property bordered by Lawrence Street.

"If that's (Ames Street) not going to work, we may have to go out on the new Highway 56 property," she said, adding that it would most likely have to be a two-sided sign there, which would double the cost.

The sign will include state championships in boys track, boys cross country, scholar's bowl, girls basketball, boys tennis, football, golf and debate. There will also be room to add additional sports and activities and additional years.

Although Wagner has done the fund-raising work, she hasn't been alone in the effort.

"George McCrary, Lonnie Broers and the people at Farm Fresh Graphics have helped," she said. "Mike Spielman has also helped. I've had lots of help."

Anyone who wants to help financially with the project can send checks payable to BHS State Champ Sign Fund, care of Diane Wagner, 501 Lawrence St., Baldwin City, KS, 66006.